Stone-channeling machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 6, 1934- E. H. HELLSTROM STONE CHANNELING MACHINE]Filed Dec. 29, 1931 iii- "Him Filed Dec. 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 art/WNov. 6, 1934. E, H. HELLSTROM STONE CHANNELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29,1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NOV. 6, 1934 E HELLSTRQM 1,980,135

STONE CHANNELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 4 14,12 i 3al l lli Inlay 5:1: y Emmi v,

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES FATE STONE-CHANNELING MACHINE ceasedApplication December 29, 1931, Serial No. 583,717

4 Claims.

This invention relates to quarrying apparatus and has for its object theprovision of a machine by which vertical channels in the stone may beout along right lines and a number of slabs or blocks may be cutsimultaneously from the bed with at least two finished faces. Theinvention has for an object the provision of a machine which willsimultaneously cut stones of desired length at the sides of the machineand form a large block directly under the machine, and which machinewill be held to a fixed path so that the stone-channeling elements willoperate on straight lines and perform their work in the most eiiicientmanner. The invention provides means whereby the operation of thechanneling elements and the travel of the machine may be very easily andeffectually controlled and the channeling elements caused to follow thechannels as the cutting of the same progresses. It

is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby stones maybe separated from the bed of the quarry with a partly finished surfaceso that the stone, as taken from the quarry, will be practically readyto set, subsequent dressing being minimized and, in many instances,eliminated.

Other incidental objects will appear in the course of the followingdescription, and the invention resides in certain novel features whichwill be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stonechanneling machine as itappears when at work, several portions of some separated stones beingshown in order that the operation may be more readily appreciated,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine,

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of cables which may beadvantageously employed, at times, with the machine,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on theline 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation,

Fig. 9 is a detail showing a variation.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indi cates a quarry bed fromwhich stones are to be cut, and in Fig. 1 the reference numeral 2indicates a block while the numeral 3 indicates slabs of less widthwhichhave been formed by the operation of the machine constituting thepresent invention. The machine is illustrated as running upon a block 4,which is being divided, and it is mounted to travel on tracks 5 whichare laid upon the surface of the block and anchored thereto. As shownmost clearly in Fig. '7, the tracks 5 comprise rails of the usualT-section which are set upon ties 6 and are connected by struts orbraces '7 whereby the parallel relation 5 of the rails will bemaintained, the ties resting upon mating wedge-shaped shims 8 wherebythe track may be leveled and a firm support for the same upon the quarrybed established. The shims 8 may also be provided at such points in thelengths of the rails as may be deemed advantageous and may be interposeddirectly between the bed block and the rails. The track is anchored, atintervals, by bolts 9 which have their lower ends engaged in plugs 10secured in openings pro vided therefor in the stone bed, said boltshaving their heads bearing upon flanged washers 11 which are fittedthrough openings provided therefor in the outer flanges of the trackrails, as shown in Fig. 7. A firm secure level track upon which themachine may travel is thus provided.

The machine includes a truck which is adapted to run upon the rails 5and said. truck comprises side plates 12 the upper edges of which arearcuate and have secured thereon a roof plate 13, said roof plateextending to the ends or lower edges of the side plates, as will beunderstood upon reference to Fig. 3. At the corners of the truck areprovided brackets 14 to the sides of which are secured plates 15 havingnarrow extensions or tongues 16 projecting from their lower ends, andupon each tongue 16 is mounted a roller 17 which bears against a side ofthe adjacent track rail 5 so as to hold the truck to the track andprevent lateral oscillation or weaving. Immediately adjacent the cornersof the truck, angle levers 18 are mounted upon the roof plate 13 withtheir lower arms projecting toward the track, as clearly shown in Fig.6, and upon the free ends of said lower arms are mounted rollers 19which bear against the undersides of the heads of the tracks, as clearlyshown in Fig. 7, thereby holding the truck down to the trackandpreventing jumping of the track when the cutters are operating.

To the bell cranks are pivoted links 20 which are connected at theirinner ends by a turn buckle 21 so that, by adjusting the turn buckle,the rollers 19 may be brought into the proper engagement with the trackrails to hold the truck thereto. If

the turn buckle be manipulated to draw the links 110,

20 together, the rollers will be released from the track rails and thetruck may then be lifted therefrom.

While the arrangement just described, and shown particularly in- Figs. 6and 8, is preferred because of its friction-minimizing characteristics,a somewhat simpler and cheaper construction may be used and is shown inFig. 9. A plate or bracket 76 is secured upon the roof plate 13 at eachcorner of the same by bolt and slot connections, as indicated at '77,permitting the plate to be adjusted transversely of the track rail. Atone side, the bracket '76 is formed with an offset at its lower endpresenting a vertical shoulder 78 to the side of the rail and 2.depending keeper plate 79 is secured to the opposite side of the bracketto bear against and slide along the opposite side of the rail so thatweaving of the truck is prevented. A second slide or keeper plate issecured to the underside of the off-set and projects under the head ofthe rail to hold the truck down to the rail.

It will be understood readily from an inspection of the drawings thatthe side plates 12 and the roof plate 13 of the truck constitute ahousing within which the operating mechanism is contained so that itwill be protected from the weather elements as well as chance blows fromfalling tools or rocks and from the muck thrown out by the rotatingsaws. Within the housing thus provided, at the corners of the same, areflanged rollers 22 which run upon the track rails 5 and thereby serve totransport the machine. The rollers are secured upon axles 23 at the endsof the machine and upon each axle is secured a sprocket 24 about whichis trained a sprocket chain 25 whereby, if either axle be rotated, therotation will be imparted to the other axle so that they will both berotated in the same direction and at the same speed. The sprocket chain25 is passed under idlers 26 within the housing, adjacent the endsthereof, so that there will be no interference between the chain and thesaw arbor which will be presently referred to. Motion is imparted to theaxles 23, so that the machine will be propelled along the tracks, by amotor 27 disposed within the housing and connected with the adjacentaxle by chain and sprocket gearing, indicated at 28. It will be notedthat the motor 2'7 is carried by a frame 29 secured upon the roof plate13 at one end of the housing and disposed above the adjacent axle 23, asshown most clearly in Fig. 3. The motor is a reversible variable speedelectric motor and in itself constitutes no part of the presentinvention. It may be procured from usual sources and is illustrated in aconventional manner only. 7 Doors 30 are provided in the roof plate togive access to the working parts for inspection or repairing of the sameand the several motor circuits are controlled by push buttonswitches,located at 31, upon the roof plate where they maybeconveniently manipulated. The circuits for the several motors are notillustrated inasmuch as they do not form a part of the invention, andthe current for operating the motors maybe provided by storage batteriesor may be furnished by a trolley system, as may be most convenient underany given circumstances. It. is to be understood also that the usualwater connections for cooling the saw blades are to be pro- -vided, andat 32 I have indicated a water pipe for cleaning the track rails as themachine travels thereover. It may be also noted that, as shown in Fig.6, the brackets 14 extend close tothe upper surfaces of the rails sothat any debris which may lodge thereon will be pushed therefrom.

The saw arbor 33 extends transversely through the housing and projectsbeyond the two opposite sides of the same, saws 34 being carried by bothends of the saw arbor. Each saw consists of a circular blade or disk andinset teeth 35 of the usual form' which are wider than the thickness ofthe disk and are preferably centered thereon. Each disk is fittedbetween hub plates 36 which are mounted upon the saw arbor, and spacingwashers 37 are provided upon the arbor between adjacent hub plates andbetween the innermost hub plates and an abutment shoulder on the arborso that the saws may be properly spaced, a nut 38 upon the end of thearbor serving, when turned home, to clamp all the saws and the washersfirmly together and against the annular abutment shoulder 39 formed uponthe arbor, as will be understood. By varying the number of spacingwashers employed, the saws may be set at any desired distance apartaccording to the thickness desired in the stone block which is to beproduced, and slabs of various widths may be cut simultaneously. Theside plates l2'of the machine housing have openings formed therethroughand in these openings are fitted large disks 40, anti-friction bearings41 being mounted in these disks eccentrically, as will be understoodupon reference to Fig. 7. The saw arbor 33 is mounted in the bearings 41and in similar bearings provided in a-bracket 42 which depends from aframe 43 which is secured to and extends between the disks 40, as shownin Figs. 3, 5 and '7. Upon the inner or upper side of the frame 43 ismounted a variable speed reversible electric motor 44 the shaft 45 ofwhich is connected by chain and sprocket gearing 46 with the saw arborso that the saws may be driven by said motor. Flanges or rings 47 and 48are rigidly secured to the inner and outer faces of the disks 40, atthe'margins of the same, and project beyond the disks, as best shown inFig. 7, whereby to engage the opposite faces of the side plates 12 andthereby retain the disks 40 in position in the side plates. The innerring or flange 47 is provided with gear teeth 49, on its outerperiphery, so that said flange constitutes a gear which is engagedby apinion 50 secured upon a shaft 51, near the end of the same, so that ifsaid shaft be rotated the disks 40 will be caused to turn about theirown centers and, consequently, shift the saw arbor 33 and the saws to ahigher or lower position. This will be readily understood upon referenceto the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and this operation permits the saws to befed downwardly in the. channels as the cutting of the stone proceeds.The shaft 51 is journaled, at its ends, in the side plates 12 and isconnected by chain and sprocket gearing, indicated at 52, with areversible variable speed electric motor 53 which is carried by a frame54 secured upon the inner side of the roof plate 13, as shown clearly inFig. 3. It will thus be seen that the travel of the machine from end toend of the quarry'bed, the driving of the saws, and the adjustment ofthe saws to follow up the work are accomplished by separate,independently controlled motors and the operation of the machine,therefore, will be easily controlled so that the saws may be accuratelyheld to the work and the sides of the stone cut in true planes. The sawarbor should, of course, clear the track rails when in its lowestposition and to enable the cutters or saw blades to make a channel ofmaximum depth without interference between the arbor and the rails, an-

nular grooves 81 are formed in thearbor directly over the rails, asshown in Fig. '7. By thus reducing the diameter of the arbor to thelimit of safety at these points, the saws are permitted to descend untilthe hub plates are just out of contact with the quarry bed.

Generally, the weight of the machine will hold it to the rails so thatthe traction between the wheels or rollers 22 and the track rails willbe sufficient to effect the desired travel of the machine. It may be, attimes, however, advantageous to provide a stabilizing device to maintainsteadiness in the machine during travel thereof and for that purpose,winding drums 55 may be mounted upon the axles 23. A cable 56 has oneend secured to one end of the housing and extends therefromlongitudinally of the track to one bank of the quarry, indicated at 57,Fig. 4, where it is trained around an idler 58 mounted upon said bank ofthe quarry. From said idler, the cable is carried back to the housingand passed through opening 59 provided in the roof plate to be wrappedaround the adjacent drum 55, as shown in Fig. 5. The cable is thenpassed through the housing, below the saw arbor, to the opposite drum 55around which it is in turn wound, then passed through a second opening59 and out longitudinally of the quarry bed. From the second opening 59,the cable is carried to an idler 60 mounted upon the opposite quarrybank 61 and thence back to the housing to which it is secured. As travelof the machine is effected, the cable will be caused to Wind and unwindon the drums so that a pull will be exerted upon the cable at one end ofthe housing, the cable at one side of the housing decreasing in relativelength, and, at the other side, increasing in relative length while itis maintained taut at both sides by the drums. The travel of theapparatus is thus rendered steady and smooth and oscillations whichmight develop otherwise are overcome.

It will be understood, from what has been said, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, that the machine is caused to travellongitudinally of the tracks and the saws are simultaneously rotated sothat they will form channels in the stone to the desired depth or thedepth permitted by the radius of the saws. The travel of the machine maybe continuous, back and forth, and the saws adjusted to cut at aslightly greater depth on each trip. Inasmuch as the saws are working atboth ends of the saw arbor and at both sides of the housing, cuts may bemade close to the wall or bank of the quarry and after the longitudinalcuts have been made and the saws withdrawn from the channels, the trackmay be set at a right angle to its previous position and the machinethen operated to cut across the previously formed channels so that thelong slabs of stone will be divided into blocks of the desired lengths.As the saw arbor is mounted in the housing between the ends thereof,when the saws are working at both sides of the machine, an upward thrustis imposed equally on the two side plates of the housing which istransmitted to the track-engaging elements at the corners of the truckso that the truck is balanced and efiectually held against alloscillation or v saving. It will be understood, of course, that, whenthe machine is set to make the transverse cuts, some of the saws may beremoved and if so desired all of the saws at one end of the saw arbormay be removed so that the blocks may be formed in any desired lengths.As the saws make clean smooth cuts and a plurality of longitudinalchannels are simultaneously made, the slabs of stone will be dressed ontwo opposite faces at each operation of the machine and inasmuch as themachine is held positively to a rectilinear path, the channels will beformed on straight lines. The provision of several independentlyoperating motors furnishes perfect control of the machine so that thesaws will act upon the stone to produce true faces and subsequentdressing of the stone will be obviated almost entirely. The progress ofthe saws through the rock bed will not be forced to such an extent asmay produce excessive heating and possible explosion of the blades,inasmuch as when the saws encounter an obstruction the rollers 22 mayslip upon the rails until the obstruction has been overcome. When theslabs are cut transversely so as to be divided into blocks of desiredlengths, the blocks or slabs will be produced at the quarry with the twoopposite sides and the two ends dressed. By the use of this machine, aslab or block having four finished faces is produced at the quarry andthe waste and expense of transporting rough blocks and subsequentlydressing them to the desired dimensions is eliminated. Of course,special designs of detailed carving must be produced later but where thework is rectangular blocks practically ready to be set may be furnisheddirect from the quarry more speedily and at less expense than by themethods heretofore generally followed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a stone-channeling machine, a housing comprising side plateshaving circular openings therein, disks rotatably fitted in and fillingsaid openings, a saw arbor mounted eccentrically through said disks,saws carried by said arbor, a motor supported by and between the disksand operatively connected with the saw arbor for rotating the same, andmeans carried by and between the side plates for rotating the diskswhereby to efiect vertical adjustment of the saw arbor and the sawsthereon.

2. A stone-channeling machine comprising a truck having side platesprovided with circular openings therethrough, disks filling androtatable in said openings, 2. frame secured to and extending betweensaid disks, a saw arbor journaled eccentrically in the disks andextending beyond the side plates of the truck, a motor mounted on saidframe and operatively connected with the saw arbor for rotating thelatter, and means carried by and between the side plates for rotatingthe disks to vertically adjust the saw arbor.

3. A stone-channeling apparatus comprising a truck including side plateshaving openings therein, disks rotatably fitted in the openings in theside plates, flanges secured to the opposite sides of the disks andengaging the opposite faces of the side plates, the inner flange havinggear teeth on its outer periphery, a saw arbor journaled in the disks, amotor carried by the disks and geared to the saw arbor, a transverseshaft mounted in l the side plates, a saw arbor eccentrically mounted insaid disks, saws on the arbor at the outer sides of the disks, a motorsupported by and between the disks and operatively connected with thesaw arbor to rotate the same, a motor mounted on the roof andoperatively connected to the disks to rotate the same and effectvertical ad- ERIC H. HELLSTROM. [L.S.]

